Poem Analysis for Christina Rossetti’s A Castle Builder’s World
Unripe harvest there hath none to reap it
From the misty gusty place,
Unripe vineyard there hath none to keep it
In unprofitable space.
Living men and women are not found there,
Only masks in flocks and shoals;
Flesh-and-bloodless hazy masks surround there,
Ever wavering orbs and poles;
Flesh-and-bloodless vapid masks abound there,
Shades of bodies without souls.
Themes:
Desolation
Isolation
Vengeance
God
Summary:
Rossetti’s ‘A Castle-Builders World’ takes imagery directly from the Bible yet instead
of showing God’s forgiveness, she explores God’s vengeance and a world lacking
any love and hope. The only hope Rossetti offers us is in the title, that a new world
can be rebuilt.
A* Analysis on page 2!
Unripe harvest there hath none to reap it
From the misty gusty place,
Unripe vineyard there hath none to keep it
In unprofitable space.
Living men and women are not found there,
Only masks in flocks and shoals;
Flesh-and-bloodless hazy masks surround there,
Ever wavering orbs and poles;
Flesh-and-bloodless vapid masks abound there,
Shades of bodies without souls.
Themes:
Desolation
Isolation
Vengeance
God
Summary:
Rossetti’s ‘A Castle-Builders World’ takes imagery directly from the Bible yet instead
of showing God’s forgiveness, she explores God’s vengeance and a world lacking
any love and hope. The only hope Rossetti offers us is in the title, that a new world
can be rebuilt.
A* Analysis on page 2!
